contractions are hard to explain. its definately painful, but a pain you can bare and forget about as soon as the baby is born. but you'll definately know when you're in labour! i didn't know what to expect either and i woke up at 1 in the morning with the pains and couldn't go to sleep with it as it was coming and going. i knew then i was in labour. i hope other remember what it was like lol its easy to forget about